What could we more than to behold a Monarch, J. Sho. 'Tis true, the royal Edward was a wonder, Alic. Where could his greatness, and his gracious form, J. Sho. Name him no more: He was the bane and ruin of my peace. This anguish and these tears, these are the legacies Alic. Joy of my life, my dearest Shore, forbear J. Sho. My form, alas! has long forgot to please; No roses bloom upon my fading cheek; But haggard grief, lean-looking sallow care, One only shadow of a hope is left me: Alic. Does Hastings undertake to plead your cause? And catching the soft flame from each new beauty; J. Sho. Away, you flatterer! Nor charge his gen'rous meaning with a weakness, Alic. Live! live and reign for ever in my bosom ; Safe and unrivall'd there possess thy own! J. Sho. Yes, thou art true, and only thou art true; Therefore these jewels, once the lavish bounty Of royal Edward's love, I trust to thee; [Giving a casket. Receive this, all that I can call my own, Strip me of all, and turn me out a wanderer, Alic. My all is thine; One common hazard shall attend us both, Man, who rejoices in our sex's weakness, J. Sho. Why should I think that man will do for me, What yet he never did for wretches like me? Mark by what partial justice we are judg'd; Such is the fate unhappy women find, And such the curse intail'd upon our kind, That man, the lawless libertine, may rove, Free and unquestion'd through the wilds of love; While woman, sense and nature's easy fool, If poor weak woman swerve from virtue's rule, * See before, p. 113. To pull down a blessing is an unusual phrase. Perhaps the author had in mind the circumstance of Jacob wrestling for a blessing, (Genesis xxxii.) and also the following words in Matt. xi. 12. "the "kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by "force." See also Luke xi. 8. and xviii. 5, 7. Jane Shore's bounty and charities are mentioned both by Sir T. More, and in the Old Ballad in the latter it is said, But yet a gentle mind I bore To helplesse people, that were poore; I still had ruth on widowes tears, If, strongly charm'd, she leave the thorny way, [Exeunt. ACT II. The SCENE continues. Enter ALICIA, speaking to JANE SHORE as entering. Alic. No farther, gentle friend; may angels guard you,* And spread their gracious wings about your slumbers. The drowsy night grows on the world, and now The busy craftsman and o'er-labour'd hind, Forget the travail of the day in sleep:† Care only wakes, and moping pensiveness; With meagre discontented looks they sit,And watch the wasting of the midnight taper. Such vigils must I keep; so wakes my soul, Restless and self-tormented. Oh! false Hastings! Thou hast destroy'd my peace. What noise is that? [Knocking without. What visitor is this, who, with bold freedom, Enter a SERVANT. Serv. One from the court, Lord Hastings (as I think) demands my Lady. [him Alic. Hastings! Be still, my heart, and try to meet With his own arts; with falsehood-But he comes. * Good angels tend thee! Richard III. A. IV. S. 1. + Man's o'er-labour'd sense Cymbeline. A. 11. S. 11. Repairs itself by rest. "This sore travail hath God given to the sons of men to be exer"cised therewith." Eccles. i. 13. Enter LORD HASTINGS. Speaks to a servant as entering. Hast. Dismiss my train, and wait alone without. Alicia here! unfortunate encounter! But, be it as it may. (Aside.) Alic. When, humbly, thus, The great descend to visit the afflicted, When, thus, unmindful of their rest, they come Hast. 'Tis true, I would not over-rate a courtesy, To nip and blast its favour, like a frost; But rather chose, at this late hour, to come, That your fair friend may know I have prevail'd; The Lord Protector has receiv'd her suit, Alic. My friend! my Lord. Hast. Yes, Lady, yours: None has a right more ample To task my pow'r than you. Alic. I want the words, To pay you back a compliment so courtly; Hast. 'Tis well, Madam. But I would see your friend. Alic. Oh! thou false Lord! I would be mistress of my heaving heart, But 'two'not be; my wrongs will tear their way, "It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the "house of feasting.' Eccles. vii. 2. + Therefore, let every man now task his thought, That this fair action may on foot be brought. Henry Vth. A. I. S. II. Fortune cannot recompense me better, Than to die well and not my master's debtor. As You Like It. See before, p. 23. Note. |